Tension device for use in constructing wire-and-picket fences



(No Model.)

1 J. WINTRODE,

TENSION DEVICE FOR USE IN GONSTRUGTING WIRE AND PIGKET FENCES.

No. 368,561. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

ENi/HEEQEE.

' 5, g WZ WQW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JACOB IVINTRODE, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA.

TENSION DEVICE FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING WIRE-AND-PICKET FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,561, dated August16, 1887.

Application filed June 27, 1887. Serial No. 242,649. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB WINTRODE, of Huntington, in the county ofHuntington and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tension Devices for Use in Constructing VVireand -PicketFences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. Myinvention relates to an improvement in tension device for useinconstructing wire-andpicket fences; and it consists in, first, thecombination of the tension-bar, a hinged brace which is connectedthereto, and a wire loop which is connected to the lower end of thebrace, and which is made to catch over the fence-post, whereby thetension device is rigidly secured in any desired position in relation tothe fence-post; second, the combination of the tension-bar, andadjusting-screws which pass through the bar, a thumb screw or nut placedupon the screw, the link which catches the wires and regulates theamount of tension of the wires upon the tension-bar, and the fence-postin connection with which the tension-bar is used, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. I

The object of my invention is to produce a tension mechanism for thewires of picket fences, and in which wires are wrapped alternatelyaround each post of the fence and partly around the tension-bar, and toprovide a means whereby the tension-bar can be braced tightly inposition in relation to the fence-post.

Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same.

A represents the fence-post, and B the wires between which the picketsare to be secured. The tension-bar 0,.which will be about the same Widthas an ordinary fence-post, has connected to it by the hinge or couplinga at any suitable point the brace D, and connected to the lower end ofthis brace is the wire loop G, for catching over the fence-post inconnection with which the tension-bar is being used. The brace D bearsat its lower end solidly upon the ground, and thus supports thetension-bar G from this side, while the loop G serves to prevent thelower end of the brace D from moving outward. In applying thistension-bar to a post the loop G must first be dropped down over the topof the post before any of the other parts are placed in position. Thewhole pressure upon the tension-bar comes upon the brace D and the loopG, and is transferred to the bar 0 at or near its center. This bar D andthe tension-post G are applied on that side of the post A upon which thepickets are being secured in position, so that as the wires are drawnpast the post in the direction of the arrows they will pass through thetension devices.

For each pair of wires which is used in securing the pickets there ispassed through the tension-bar G a screw-rod, H, and upon thescrew-threadedend of each rod is placed a thumb-nut, I, which is placedin between the two wires, and which bears at its inner side against aloop, J, which is passed over the two wires for the purpose ofpreventing them from spreading outward. In proportion as this thumb-nutis tightened upon its screwrod H the loop J is forced toward thetensionbar 0, and thus made to tighten the two wires against oppositesides of the tension-bar, as shown. Each screw-rod has its head eitherformed into a hook or extending at an angle to the rod, so as to pass inbetween the wires, which are made to cross each other between thetension-bar and the post, as shown. This head, by catching in betweenthe wires at the point where they cross eachother, forces them towardthe tension-bar by making the bend or curve of the wires around thetension-bar-O correspondingly shorter. The distance between thetension-bar and the post A is regulated by the blocks N, which serve tohold them rigidly apart, leaving the screw-rods H to be adjusted backand forth at the will of the operator. When the head of the rod isforced inward toward the tension-bar, and at the same time the thumb-nutI is also turned toward the tension-bar, the curves or bends of thewires are made shorter upon both sides, and in this manner the tensioncan be increased to any desired degree. Before the wires pass eachotherat the heads of the screw-rods H they are bent around oppositesides of the post A.

The tension-bar is placed on the side of the post A next to the pickets,and has to be re moved when the pickets reach the lower end 2. Thecombination of the bar carrying tenof the brace D. The tension-bar isthen moved sion devices, the screw-rods having hooked or along the lineof the post a suitable distance, I angular heads, and the loop whichholds the 15 where it is again connected to another post, as wires incontact with the bar, the wires being 5 shown. crossed between the postand the tension-bar,

Having thus described my invention, I substantially as described. claimIn testimony whereof I affix my signature in 1. The combination of thebar carrying tenpresence of two witnesses. sion devices, the braceconnected thereto, and J AGOB \VINTRODE. 10 the loop which isconnectedto the lower end "Witnesses:

of the brace and capable of catching over the BUELL M. COBB,

fence-post, substantially as shown. HARRY DUNHAM.

